Mounting system for telecommunications panels

ABSTRACT

A mounting arrangement for a telecommunications system, the system including a panel and a frame. The mounting arrangement providing a tool-less connection between the panel and the frame for ease of assembly and installation. In one embodiment, the mounting arrangement including flexible retaining clips provided on the panel, and guides formed on the frame. The flexible retaining clip and guides defining a snap-fit connection that is secure and easy to use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 11/821,543, filed Jun. 22, 2007; which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/816,055, filed Jun. 23, 2006, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/816,093, filed Jun. 23, 2006; whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to devices for use in thetelecommunications industry, and various methods associated with suchdevices. More particularly, this disclosure relates to mountingarrangements for telecommunications panels.

BACKGROUND

Telecommunications panels are used to provide electrical connections ina wide variety of telecommunication applications. The panels are oftenhoused within and mounted to racks and cabinets, for example. Many racksand cabinets include frames having defined positions at which panels maybe mounted. The panels are mounted at the defined panel positions withfasteners.

Each panel utilizes a minimum of two fasteners, and more often fourfasteners, to secure the panel relative to the frame. On many framesystems, the fasteners include screws and corresponding captive cagenuts. Cage nuts are designed to provide a certain amount of float toensure that manufacturing tolerances experienced with sheet metal frameconstructions are accommodated. The cage nuts are often located withinsquare holes in the frame.

The cage nuts are typically pre-installed within the square holes of theframe. Accordingly, cage nuts are often provided at empty panelpositions on the frame. Providing cage nuts at each of the defined panelpositions on the frame is time consuming and fiddly. In suchconventional mounting arrangements, misalignment issues can also arisewhen attempting to match holes across the width of the frame.

In general, improvement has been sought with respect to such mountingsystems, devices, and methods.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a mounting arrangement for mounting atelecommunications panel to a telecommunications frame. The mountingarrangement provides a tool-less connection that secures thetelecommunications panel to the telecommunications frame. A variety ofexamples of desirable product features or methods are set forth in partin the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of thedisclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate to individualfeatures as well as combinations of features. It is to be understoodthat both the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimedinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left-side, front perspective view of one embodiment of amounting arrangement for mounting a telecommunications panel to a frame,according to the principles of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a right-side, front perspective view of the telecommunicationspanel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a mountingarrangement for mounting a telecommunications panel to a frame,according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the mounting arrangement of FIG.3, showing the insertion of the telecommunications panel into the frame;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the telecommunications panelillustrated in FIG. 3, and shown in isolation;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the telecommunications panelof FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial side perspective view of the telecommunicationspanel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the telecommunications panel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 3,and shown in isolation;

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the frame of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the frame of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the frame of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the frame of FIG. 11;and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail view of another portion of the frame ofFIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various features of the presentdisclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mounting arrangement 10 between atelecommunications panel 12 and a frame 14. The panel 12 in theillustrated embodiment is a patch panel, however, other types of panelsand equipment can be provided with the present mounting arrangement inaccordance with the principles disclosed. The frame 14 is that of atelecommunications rack. The features of the frame 14 can also beutilized in other systems and structures, such as cabinets and wallboxes, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present mounting arrangement 10generally provides a quick and easy-to-use connection 32 between thepanel 12 and the frame 14. The connection 32 is configured to secure thepanel 12 to the frame 14 without the use of tools. The connection 32 ofthe present mounting arrangement 10 further retains the panel 12 withina selected panel position 34 of the frame 14 without the use ofadditional mechanical fasteners, such as cage nuts and/or screws.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection 32 is asnap-fit connection. That is, the mounting arrangement 10 of the presentdisclosure relies on flexible parts, on either the frame or panel, thatdeflect so that the panel can slide into a selected position of theframe. The flexible parts then return or snap back to a natural ornon-deflected state to retain the panel 12 in a fixed location relativeto the frame 14.

The flexible parts of the present mounting arrangement 10 generallyinclude flexible retaining members (e.g., arms or clips) 16 provided onthe panel 12. Guides 18 (FIG. 1) corresponding to the retaining clips 16are provided on the frame 14. It is contemplated, that in thealternative, the flexible parts (i.e., the retaining clips) can beprovided on the frame and the guides provided on the panel. (While onlyone side (e.g., 27) of the panel 12 and frame 14 are shown in theillustrated mounting arrangement 10, it is to be understood that eachside of the panel and frame include identical mounting arrangementconstructions.)

Referring to FIG. 2, the retaining clips 16 of the present mountingarrangement 10 are constructed to deflect as the panel 12 is insertedinto a selected one of a number of panel position 34 defined by theframe 14. In particular, the retaining clips 16 are located on oppositesides 27 (only one shown) of the panel 12. The retaining clips 16contact side frame members 36 of the frame 14 and deflect inward duringinitial panel insertion. As the panel 12 is further inserted, theretaining clips 16 each engage the corresponding guides 18 provided onthe frame 14. When the panel 12 is fully inserted within the frame 14,the retaining members 16 snap back to a natural or non-deflected statewithin the guide 18.

In particular, in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, theguides 18 of the frame 14 include slots 20 formed within side members 22of the frame 14. When the deflected retaining clips 16 engage the slots20, the clips 16 snap back to the non-deflected state. When in thenatural or non-deflected state, the retaining clips 16 extend throughthe slots 20 of the frame 14 and support the panel 12 at the selectedpanel position 34. The frame 14 typically includes a number ofvertically-stacked panel positions; accordingly, corresponding guides 18(e.g., slots 20) are provided along the length of the side members 22,i.e., from the bottom of the frame 14 to the top of the frame.

The retaining clips 16 can be formed integrally in the panel 12, orprovided as a separate component carried by the panel. In theillustrated embodiment, the clips 16 are integrally formed from thesides 27 of the panel 12. The retaining clips 16 each include a detentor protrusion 78 that extend transversely outward from the side portion26 of the panel 12. When the clips 16 seat within the slots 20 of theframe, the protrusions 78 function as stops to vertically support thepanel 12 at the selected panel position 34. That is, the protrusions 78extend through the slots 20 to retain the panel 12 at the selected panelposition.

The snap-fit connection 32 of the present mounting arrangement 10secures the panel 12 at the selected panel location yet reducesinstallation time by eliminating the need for installation tools and/orseparate fasteners. The mounting arrangement 10 is thereby more timeeffective and easy to use by way of the pre-positioned guides or slotsthat replicate standard panel positioning.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting arrangement 10 furtherincludes latch and handle arrangements 26 that lock the panel 12 intoposition relative to the frame 14. The arrangements 26 each include alatch arm 74 (FIG. 2). The latch arms 74 deflect while the panel 12 isbeing installed into the frame 14. Catches 80 formed on the latch arms74 engage apertures 76 (e.g., a hole or slot; only one shown in FIG. 1)formed in the frame 14 when the panel 12 is fully inserted within theframe. The latch arms 74 are provided on the panel 12 and the apertures76 are defined by the frame 14. In the alternative, the arms can beprovided on the frame and the apertures defined by the panel. Thearrangements 26 can further include handle portions (not shown) locatedadjacent to a front 24 of the panel 12. The handle portions can be usedto release the latch arms 74 and remove the panel 12 from the frame 14.Additional details of latch and handle arrangements that can be used inthe present mounting arrangement are described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/821,542, published as Pub. No. 2008/0100069,which application is incorporated herein by reference.

As can be understood, the snap-fit connection 32 of the disclosedmounting arrangement 10 requires cooperation between structure of boththe panel 12 and the frame 14. The present panel 12 however isconfigured for use in conventional frames. In particular, the retainingclips 16 of the panel 12 are located and flexibly constructed so thatthe clips deform when the panel 12 is mounted to a conventional frame.Further, the panel includes mounting brackets 38 that corresponding tothe mounting configuration of conventional frames (not shown). Thedisclosed panel 12 can thereby be use in existing telecommunicationracks, for example, until frame upgrades can be completed.

Likewise, the present frame 14 is configured to accept conventionalpanels. In particular, the guides 18 or slots 22 of the frame 14 arelocated and constructed to provide the snap-fit connection 32 with thepresent panel 12, but also are unobtrusive to therefore allowconventional panels to fit within the frame 12. Accordingly, the presentframe 14 includes mounting holes 40 that correspond to the mountingconfiguration of conventional panels (not shown). The disclosed frame 14can thereby be used with existing telecommunications panels, forexample, until panel upgrades can be completed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of a mountingarrangement 110 is illustrated. Similar to the previous embodiment, themounting arrangement 110 provides a connection 132 between a panel 112and a frame 114. The connection 132 is configured to secure the panel112 to the frame 114 without the use of tools. The connection 132 of themounting arrangement 110 further retains the panel 112 within a selectedpanel position (e.g., 134) of the frame without the use of additionmechanical fasteners, such as cage nuts and/or screws.

In the illustrated embodiment, the connection 132 is a snap-fitconnection. That is, the mounting arrangement 110 relies on flexibleparts, on either the frame or panel, that deflect so that the panel 112can slide into a selected position of the frame 114. The flexible partsthen return or snap back to a natural or non-deflected state to retainthe panel 112 in a fixed location relative to the frame 114.

Referring now to FIG. 5-8, the flexible parts of the mountingarrangement 110 generally includes flexible retaining members 116 (e.g.,arms or clips) provided on the panel 112. Guides 118 (FIG. 3) thatcorrespond to the retaining clips 116 are provided on the frame 144.

The retaining clips 116 of the present mounting arrangement 110 areconstructed to deflect as the panel 112 is inserted into a selected oneof a number of panel positions 134 (FIGS. 3 and 4) defined by the frame114. The retaining clips 116 are located on opposite sides 127, 129(FIG. 8) of the panel 112. Referring to FIG. 8, the clips 116 eachinclude a protruding portion 178 that extends transversely beyond theopposite side 127, 129 of the panel. As will be discussed in greaterdetail hereinafter, the clips 116 contact the frame and deflect inwardwhen the panel 112 is initially inserted into the frame 114. As thepanel 112 is further inserted, the retaining clips 116 each engage arecess or seat 142 (FIG. 4) provided by the guides 118 of the frame 114.When the panel 112 is fully inserted within the frame 114, the retainingmembers 116 snap back to the natural or non-deflected state within theseat 142. When in the non-deflected state, the retaining clips 116 restwithin the seat 142 and support the panel 112 at the selected panelposition 134. The frame 114 typically includes a number ofvertically-stacked panel positions; accordingly, corresponding guides118 are provided from the bottom of the frame 114 to the top of theframe.

As shown in FIG. 8, when in the natural or non-deflected state, theclips 116 extend outward from the panel 112 so that the clips seatwithin the guides 118 (FIG. 4) and vertically support the panel 112 atthe selected panel position. The retaining clips 116 can be formedintegrally in the panel 112, or provided as a separate component carriedby the panel 112. In this embodiment, the flexible retaining clips 116are integrally provided on a cover piece 128 (FIG. 6) of the patch panel112. The cover piece 128 encloses the interior of the panel.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the clips 116 of this embodiment alsofunction to secure the cover 128 in relation to a chassis 182 of thepanel 112. In particular, the clips 116 extend through slots 186 formedin the chassis 182. To remove the cover 128 from the chassis 182, theclips 116 are flexed inward as shown by arrows A in FIG. 8. Flexing theclips 116 inward disengages the clips 116 from the slots 186 of thechassis 182 so that the cover 128 can be removed. Gripping tabs 184 areprovided to aid in flexing the clips 116 inward.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-14, the illustrated frame 114 of this mountingarrangement 110 generally includes a plurality of elongated profile orframe members 144, including a top frame member 188 (FIG. 9), a bottomframe member 190, and side frame members 192. In the illustratedembodiment, the elongated frame members 144 are extrusions. The framemembers 144 are interconnected to one another by corner pieces 146. Asshown in FIGS. 11 and 13, fasteners 162 are used to secure the cornerpieces 146 and the elongated frame members 144 together.

The frame members 144 have an interior side 148 (FIG. 11) and anexterior side 150. Channels 152 are formed in the interior side 148 ofthe elongated frame members 144. The channels 152 are configured toreceive guides inserts 154. A number of guide inserts 154 can beinterconnected and engaged with the channels 152 of the frame members144.

The guide inserts 154 generally define the guides 118, which in turndefine the mounting locations for a plurality of panels (e.g., 112; onlyone shown for clarity). When a panel 112 is initially inserted into oneof the mounting locations, the retaining clips 116 of the panel 112contact right and left deflecting structures or surfaces 156 (FIG. 12)that deflect the clips 116 inward. As the panel 112 slides furtherrearward, the retaining clips encounter the seat 142 defined by theguides 118. Each retaining clip then snaps back into the non-deflectedstate and rests upon a horizontal ledge surface 158 of the seat 142. Thepanel 112 is thereby vertically supported at the selected mountinglocation. A rearward stop surface 160 and the deflecting surface 156 aidin capturing the retaining clip 116 within the seat 142.

As previously discussed, the snap-fit connection 132 permits assembly ofthe system (i.e., attachment of the panels 112 to the frame 114) withoutthe use of tools, and without the use of additional fasteners. Yet, theguide inserts 154 of the present frame 144 also accommodate conventionalpanels by providing structure that accepts captive cage nuts 164. Inparticular, the guide inserts 154 define pockets or slots 166 (FIG. 14)in which cage nuts 164 can be placed. Conventional panels can thereby besecured within the disclosed frame 114 until panel upgrades can becompletes. Likewise, and referring back to FIG. 6, the disclosed panel112 includes mounting brackets 138 with mounting holes 140 thatcorrespond to the mounting configuration of conventional frames. Thedisclosed panel 112 can thereby be used in existing telecommunicationsracks, for example, until frame upgrades can be completed. When insertedwithin a conventional frame, the retaining clips 116 of the panel 112simply deflect inward, and remain deflected inward when mounted.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 7, the panel 112 further includes latchand handle arrangements 126 that lock the panel 112 into positionrelative to the frame. The arrangements 126 each include a latch arm 174(FIG. 7). The latch arms 174 deflect while the panel 112 is beinginstalled into the frame 114. Catches 180 (see also FIG. 8) formed onthe latch arms 174 engage apertures 176 (e.g., holes or slots) (FIG. 12)provided on the frame 114 when the panel 112 is fully inserted withinthe frame. In this embodiment, the latch arms 174 are provided on thepanel 112 and the apertures 176 are defined by the frame 114. Aspreviously described, in the alternative, the arms can be provided onthe frame and the apertures defined by the panel. The latch and handlearrangements 126 further include handle portions 172 located at a front124 of the panel 112. The handle portions 172 are used to release thelatch arms 174 and remove the panel 112 from the frame 114. Furtherdetails of latch and handle arrangements that can be used in the presentmounting arrangement are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/821,542, published as Pub. No. 2008/0100069, which application ispreviously incorporated herein by reference.

In general, the snap-fit connection 132 of the present mountingarrangement 110 secures the panel 112 at a selected panel location yetreduces installation time by eliminating the need for installation toolsor separate fasteners. The mounting arrangement 110 is thereby more timeeffective and easy to use by way of the pre-positioned guide inserts 154that replicate standard panel positioning.

The above specification provides a complete description of the presentinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, certain aspects ofthe invention reside in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. A telecommunications panel, comprising: a) a panel chassis having afront, a rear, and opposing sides, the chassis defining a panelinterior; and b) flexible arms located at the side of the panel chassis,the flexible arms being arranged to deflect in a direction toward thepanel interior, the flexible arms each including a protruding portionthat extends transversely beyond the sides of the panel when theflexible arm is in a non-deflected state.
 2. The panel of claim 1,further including mounting brackets having a mounting holeconfiguration.
 3. The panel of claim 1, further including a cover thatsecures to the panel chassis to enclose the panel interior, the flexiblearms being carried by the cover.
 4. A telecommunications frame,comprising: a) a plurality of frame members, including a top framemember, a bottom frame member, and side frame members; and b) guideinserts secured to an interior surface of the side frame members, theguide inserts defining horizontal ledges that provide a plurality ofpanel-mounting locations, the guide inserts accommodating snap-fitmounted telecommunications panels.
 5. The frame of claim 4, furtherincluding corner pieces that secure the side frame member to each of thetop and bottom frame members.
 6. The frame of claim 4, wherein the guideinserts define slots, and wherein the frame further includes fastenernuts located within the slots to accommodate bracket-mountedtelecommunications panels.